How do you like your miracles? Grandiose? Sweeping? Brazen?

Secret? Hushed? Hidden away?

Noisy, with puffs of smoke and flashes of light?

Or earthy, humble, even sensual?

i’ll tell you: i prefer the latter. I prefer the miracles you can touch, taste and get inside of, over the spectacular ones you only hear about.

Yesterday, I came upon a miracle-maker.

He’s friendly, down to earth, and passionate about his craft. In fact, he spends most of his time in the earth, bringing life to wonderful and long-missed aromas and flavors.

He makes magic happen, and the list is long: Fresh rosemary, thyme, cilantro, flat parsley, curly parsley, sage, three varieties of basil, scallions, chives, arugula (!)  …

and fronds of fennel silky enough to coax superlatives from your lips.

He’s got lavender, citronella, three types of mint, and more and more and more.

I stood in his field, jaw hanging, enjoying an olfactory adventure I hadn’t known for years as he handed me leaf after leaf to inhale.

This is my kind of miracle; this is my brand of joy.

What’s yours ?

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PS: If you’re in Bamako and wishing for some of these miracles, call Vincent, in Badalabougou: +223 74 58 31 80.